WorldAssociated PressUS Navy says drone strike hit oil tanker off Oman, killing 2
U.S. Navy explosive experts believe a “drone strike” targeted an oil tanker that came under attack off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, killing two on board, the American military said Saturday. The strike Thursday night on the oil tanker Mercer Street marks the first-known fatal attack after years of assaults on commercial shipping in the region linked to tensions with Iran over its tattered nuclear deal. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Israeli officials alleged Tehran launched the drone strike.
U.S.TODAYAnthony Barajas, TikTok star, dies at 19
Police have confirmed that social media star, Anthony Barajas, has died after sustaining injuries at a shooting on Monday, July 26, at a Southern California movie theater. “The Corona Police Department has been notified that Anthony Barajas passed away early this morning,” a release from the police department read. Barajas and Rylee Goodrich, 18, attended a showing of “The Forever Purge” at 9:35 p.m. at the theater in The Crossings mall located in Corona, California, southeast of Los Angeles.
U.S.National ReviewRon DeSantis Issues Order Making Masks Optional in Florida Schools
Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R.) issued an executive order on Friday making mask-wearing optional in the state's public schools after the CDC issued new guidance earlier this week recommending that teachers, staff, and students wear face coverings indoors — even if they are vaccinated. “The federal government has no right to tell parents that in order for their kids to attend school in person, they must be forced to wear a mask all day, every day,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Many Florida schoolchildren have suffered under forced masking policies, and it is prudent to protect the ability of parents to make decisions regarding the wearing of masks by their children.”
HealthThe ConversationWeed withdrawal: More than half of people using medical cannabis for pain experience withdrawal symptoms
In a study published Jan. 5, my colleagues and I found that 59% percent of people using medical cannabis for chronic pain experienced moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms if they stopped ingesting weed for hours or days. Most states in the U.S. have legalized cannabis for medical purposes and 15 have legalized it for recreational use. While many people report therapeutic benefits or enjoy recreational use of cannabis, it is important people understand the potential risks of cannabis use too.
ScienceReutersGreenland experienced 'massive' ice melt this week, scientists say
With climate change fueling high temperatures across the Arctic, Greenland lost a massive amount of ice on Wednesday with enough melting to cover the U.S. state of Florida in 2 inches (5.1 cm) of water, scientists said. It was the third-biggest ice loss for Greenland in a single day since 1950. The rapid melt followed warm air being trapped over the Arctic island by a change in atmospheric circulation patterns, scientists said, noting that there could be more ice lost.
PoliticsAssociated PressUS sues Texas to block state troopers from stopping migrants
The Biden administration sued Texas on Friday to prevent state troopers from stopping vehicles carrying migrants on grounds that they may spread COVID-19, warning that the practice would exacerbate problems amid high levels of crossings on the state's border with Mexico. The Justice Department asked for an immediate block on Gov. Greg Abbott's order issued Wednesday, which allows the Texas Department of Public Safety to “stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion” that it transports migrants. Troopers could then reroute vehicles back to their point of origin or impound them.
HealthAxiosCDC: Emerging evidence shows Delta variant may cause mild COVID among vaccinated people
About 74% of 469 COVID-19 cases associated with large gatherings held in Barnstable County, Mass., from July 3 to 17 were among fully vaccinated people, according to data released Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters: The data bolsters emerging evidence that vaccinated people have high viral loads and may transmit the Delta variant as easily as those who are unvaccinated. Be smart: Despite mild breakthrough cases appearing more common than previously thought, "vaccination is the most important strategy to prevent severe illness and death," the report emphasizes.
HealthThe ConversationWhen someone dies, what happens to the body?
As a funeral director who heads a university mortuary science program, I can tell you that while each individual's life experiences are unique, what happens to a body after death follows a broadly predictable chain of events. In general, it depends on three things: where you die, how you die and what you or your family decide on for funeral arrangements and final disposition. If so, the body travels to a county morgue or a funeral home, where a pathologist conducts a detailed internal and external examination of the body as well as toxicology tests.
PoliticsWashington ExaminerMark Meadows says 'Cabinet members' meeting at Trump's New Jersey golf club
Former President Donald Trump has been holding meetings with "Cabinet members" at his golf club in New Jersey this week, according to a top ally. Mark Meadows, who was Trump's final White House chief of staff, said the work at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, is focused on "what comes next" with regards to 2022 and 2024 elections, after which Newsmax host Steve Cortes (himself a former Trump adviser) asked whether he wanted to break any news about his meetings with the former president. "We met with several of our Cabinet members tonight," Meadows said.
U.S.Associated PressMudslides force more than 100 to spend night on highway
More than 100 people had to spend the night on a highway, including nearly 30 who took refuge in a tunnel, after rain over an area burned by a wildfire once again triggered mudslides in western Colorado, authorities said Friday. The people were caught with their vehicles on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon on Thursday night. The tunnel serves as a 24-hour operations center for the Colorado Department of Transportation, so it is relatively well-lit and has telephones, Stowe said.
WorldBBCAfghanistan: Fighting rages as Taliban besiege three key cities
Fighting is raging around three major cities in southern and western Afghanistan as Taliban militants seek to seize them from government forces. Taliban fighters have entered parts of Herat, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar. The fundamentalist Islamist militia is already thought to have captured up to half of all Afghanistan's territory, including lucrative border crossings with Iran and Pakistan.
U.S.Associated PressBacon may disappear in California as pig rules take effect
National veal and egg producers are optimistic they can meet the new standards, but only 4% of hog operations now comply with the new rules. Unless the courts intervene or the state temporarily allows non-compliant meat to be sold in the state, California will lose almost all of its pork supply, much of which comes from Iowa, and pork producers will face higher costs to regain a key market. Related video: Food shortages talkback with Glenn Mier Animal welfare organizations for years have been pushing for more humane treatment of farm animals but the California rules could be a rare case of consumers clearly paying a price for their beliefs.
U.S.Business InsiderA cruise passenger who assaulted two men during a drunken brawl at a buffet was sentenced to 21 months in jail
A UK man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, following a brawl on a P&O cruise. Paul Evans, a financial advisor and ex-stockbroker, was sentenced on Thursday, MailOnline reported. A former stockbroker has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for assaulting two cruise passengers during a late-night buffet on the vessel, MailOnline reported.
PoliticsThe WeekTrump raised nearly $50 million more than next highest Republican in first half of 2021, campaign filings show
Former President Donald Trump is still reeling in significantly more money than any other Republican months after he left office, The New York Times reports. To put that it in perspective, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) was second in online fundraising among GOP politicians at $7.8 million. While Trump remains banned from major social media sites and has made few public appearances since leaving the White House, when he did show up before crowds he scored big on the donation front.
- NewsKCRA - Sacramento Videos
Pedestrian in serious condition after being struck by vehicle, Sacramento police say
A pedestrian is in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle in Sacramento on Friday night, according to police. The collision happened in the area of Sequoia Pacific and Richards Boulevard. The pedestrian was taken to a nearby hospital.
WorldAssociated PressUK prime minister's wife says she's pregnant again
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's wife, Carrie, said Saturday that she is expecting the couple's second child. Carrie Johnson announced her pregnancy in a post on Instagram in which she also revealed that she suffered a miscarriage earlier this year. At the beginning of the year, I had a miscarriage which left me heartbroken,'' she wrote.
U.S.INSIDERA woman caught on video being charged by a grizzly bear at Yellowstone faces criminal charges after officials used social media to identify her
A woman is facing criminal charges related to an incident with a grizzly bear in Yellowstone in May. Investigators used social media to identify the woman. A woman has been charged in an incident captured on video that showed her taking photos within 15 feet of a grizzly bear and two cubs at Yellowstone National Park in May.
PoliticsThe GuardianTrump tries to defend ‘just say the election was corrupt’ demand
Donald Trump insisted on Saturday that when he told senior justice department officials to “Just say that the election was corrupt [and] leave the rest to me”, he was not attempting to subvert US democracy, but to “uphold the integrity and honesty of elections and the sanctity of our vote”. The former president's restatement of his lie that his defeat by Joe Biden was the result of electoral fraud came a day after Washington was rocked by news of his December call with acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen and Richard Donoghue, a senior DoJ official.
- CelebrityFox News
Britney Spears goes topless again, shares snapshot from her 'vacation' with Cher and more in Instagram spree
Britney Spears has plenty to say. The 39-year-old pop star took to Instagram on Friday evening to share several back-to-back posts featuring another topless video, fan art depicting her with Cher and more. The first post contained a photo of a slushy orange drink with a lemon garnish and a second pic of a decorative owl statue made up of smaller, ornamental pieces.
LifestyleBusiness InsiderI'm a lifeguard in the Hamptons who works private parties at multi-million dollar mansions. This is what my job is like.
Mikayla Mott, 27, is a swim instructor and founder of Swim Hamptons, a private lifeguarding company. She and her team of 10 are hired to teach swim lessons and lifeguard at private pools and oceanfront beaches. Here's what her job is like, as told to freelance writer Claire Turrell.
U.S.INSIDERA celebrity influencer scammed victims out of $24m to fund his luxury lifestyle that he bragged about on Instagram
A Nigerian influencer has pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering. Ramon Abbas AKA Hushpuppi built a 2.5m following with his pictures of private jets and luxury cars. A Nigerian influencer known for documenting his lavish lifestyle has pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering.
PoliticsUSA TODAY'Something has to change': Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rep. Henry Cuellar call on Biden to appoint 'border czar'
A bipartisan pair of lawmakers are calling on President Joe Biden to appoint a “border czar” as the United States continues to see a large number of migrants coming to the U.S.-Mexico border. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose district is along the United States' southern border in Texas, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Friday they would like Biden to appoint former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to the position. During a press briefing Friday, Cuellar said that the Biden administration needs to listen to border communities and border patrol officials on what is happening in the region.
PoliticsThe GuardianNo children, no vote: Fox News’s latest asinine suggestion
After some careful consideration they decided that while it probably wasn't “feasible” to ban childfree people from participating in society, the idea did have merit. Arwa Mahdawi The catalyst for this mind-bogglingly asinine discussion, by the way, was a recent speech made by the Ohio Senate candidate JDVance to a conservative thinktank. Vance chastised four prominent Democrat leaders – Vice-President Kamala Harris, transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Cory Booker and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – for not reproducing, suggesting that not having biological kids made them bad leaders.
U.S.South Florida Sun SentinelThe Surfside death toll: Why didn’t the numbers add up?
The final number of dead in the Surfside condo collapse was devastating: 98 lives lost. Many of the missing from Champlain Towers South were on the list more than once, said Lt. Carlos Rosario, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department. English and Hebrew names might be given for the same missing person.
U.S.The New York TimesHe Hired 2 Men to Kidnap His Wife. They Ended Up Drowning.
Schanda Handley was at home with her daughter and a neighbor when two men showed up at the door, dressed in what looked like blue uniforms from an appliance store. Then they pushed Handley into a van and drove off, leaving Handley's 14-year-old daughter and the neighbor behind. The kidnappers had been hired by Handley's estranged husband, Lawrence Michael Handley, who was planning to have Schanda Handley driven to his camp near Woodville, Mississippi, from her home in Lafayette, Louisiana, prosecutors said.
“[The program] stands likely to leave millions of families — disproportionately the poorest and most fragile ones — behind.”
“[Paying] families monthly, instead of one lump sum ... will provide parents with more stability knowing when cash is coming.”
“More parents will disappear from the workforce, and more children will be locked into dependency.”
“Poverty is a political choice, not an inevitability.”
“Time is running out. There are only six months until monthly payments of the credit cease."